The revelry of 2019's Twenties has established Bren Joy as a raw and indispensable singer, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist leading the new wave of R&B. On his eight-track EP, which has amassed over 5.7 million streams on Spotify, the 23-year-old fused elements of jazz, hip-hop, pop, and gospel with experimental soul music while offering an emotional sojourn into the complexities of early adulthood.

While studying music at Belmont University, the Nashville-bred musician wrote the relatable and groovy Twenties to be sung both “alone at a jazz club and in stadiums,” he says. Inspired by an array of artists, from John Legend and Kirk Franklin to The 1975, Twenties incorporates unique chord structures and progressions on what Bren deems a “youthful, euphoric” collection that “reimagines the mainstream.” Bren will continue to tilt the status quo with his dynamic songwriting and style.